Guest View: Take 'A CRASH' course in parental involvement

Tuesday

Mar 5, 2013 at 1:12 PMMar 5, 2013 at 1:17 PM

“I don't have time to bake cookies for the PTA bake sale!” cries today's working parent. Schools are demanding “parental involvement” and today's time-stressed parents are feeling pressured. Study after study shows the number one indicator of student success is parental involvement. Don't worry!

Victoria Simon

"I don't have time to bake cookies for the PTA bake sale!" cries today's working parent. Schools are demanding "parental involvement" and today's time-stressed parents are feeling pressured. Study after study shows the number one indicator of student success is parental involvement. Don't worry!

Parental involvement is not as difficult as it sounds and all you need is "A CRASH" course in how to be an involved parent:

AskCareReadAttendance SleepHomework

ASKAsk your child specific questions about school including what he or she is learning in each class, what special activities are happening at school and about their friends. Reading, writing and conversation are the three main ways students process their learning. By having your child talk about their day and what they learned you are actually increasing the chance the knowledge will stick.

CARECaring is the most important requirement of all. If your child believes you care about school success your child will be more motivated to do his or her best. Elementary students do their best in school to please you – not because they are focused on a prestigious college and professional career. A study by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company found that nearly all students (97%) who earned mostly A's and B's on their report cards reported that their parents encouraged them to do well in school. Showing you care includes attending parent-teacher conferences.

READReading is linked to academic success. Less than one-third of 13 year olds read daily. In 2006, American teenagers averaged seven to 10 minutes per day reading and 120 to 150 minutes per day watching television. (Increased Internet use since then has caused literary reading to decline even more.) Students who read 22 minutes a day or more average over the 70 percentile on standardized tests. Only 3% of adult prisoners read at a proficient level.

ATTENDANCEAttendance is essential to succeeding in school and on the job. Students who miss 10 or more days in a school year increase their risk of dropping out of high school. People who drop out of high school are 3.5 times as likely to be incarcerated in their lifetime.

SLEEPSleep is necessary for proper brain function. Elementary age children need 10 to 11 hours of sleep and teenagers need about nine hours of sleep nightly. Lack of sleep causes irritability, hyperactivity, depression, impatience, mood swings, low self-confidence, low tolerance for frustration or other impulse control problems. All of these make learning and behaving difficult.

HOMEWORKHomework is the final subject in a crash course of parental involvement. Make sure your child does his or her homework each day. Your child should have a safe, quiet place to do work with necessary supplies such as paper and pencils. Most families find it easiest if homework is completed before chores and fun activities.

March is Parenting Awareness Month, which is a great time to reflect on how you can be the parent who supports your child in school success. Busy moms and dads can be involved parents – even if it means enjoying store bought cookies with your child instead of baking up a batch for the PTA sale. Local parenting advice is available on a CD or through MP3 download or listening online at http://www.ioniaisd.org/Area/PAM.php.

Victoria Simon is the principal of Threshold Academy. The elementary charter school was created to serve students in Ionia and Montcalm Counties who need a nurturing environment. "The Small School with a Big heart" is operated by EightCAP, Inc., a community action agency.

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